1.23.2013

It's that time again! Our MOPs group has started the second semester and we are back into craft mode. This week's craft should have been a painted tote (thanks to the cold, we had to cancel!). I'm sure we will work it in later, though. Because, really, who doesn't love a re-useable bag? (View other MOPs crafts here, here, here, and here)

It's so easy and takes very little time, not to mention it is super inexpensive!

1.10.2013

Earlier this year (or I guess last year!), I shared with you some paint colors that reminded me of fall. I wanted to do the same thing for winter. I used Pratt and Lambert Paints as the type of paint. When I worked as an interior designer, my company sold Pratt and Lambert and their paint is really good. (Again, they're not paying me to say that!) It's the paint I'm familiar with, so that's why I'm using it.

1.09.2013

Hey guys! Welcome back to Blog Feature Friday. Hope your Christmas and New Year holidays were great! Today, Jessica from A Humble Creation is giving us a yummy, healthy recipe. Read on!

Heart-Healthy Granola Hearts: A Treat for Your Valentine

Are you still on detox from your holiday
eating and parties or are you ready to gear up for the next round of treats
at Valentine’s Day? With these
tasty and nutritious granola hearts, you can do both – eat healthy and enjoy a
treat for you and your own special Valentine!

I first started making homemade granola bars after my daughter
was diagnosed with a peanut allergy.
I discovered the only packaged granola bars I could find were processed
in facilities that use peanuts and were therefore unsafe for my little one,
except for one organic brand, which was not well received by my pocketbook. Reviewing labels for peanuts also
brought to my attention the other unidentified ingredients floating around in
some of those bars.

My quest for peanut-free, inexpensive, nutritious granola
snacks ended in my own kitchen, where I make my own granola regularly for my
children and have never looked back. For this batch, I used a heart shaped cookie cutter to give
them a festive touch for the upcoming Valentine’s Day.

With the following recipe you can make your own granola bars
(or hearts or any shape!) and even modify it to fit your tastes. The great part of making your own bars
is the limitless flavor combinations you can create. Throw in a variety of chopped or dried fruits, such as
apples, apricots, prunes, cherries, cranberries, or banana. Mix in nuts or nut butters. (Sunbutter
is our favorite peanut free choice).
Add fun treats like
chocolate or other chips, marshmallows, or your own secret ingredient. Let’s get started!

3.Create a well in the dry ingredients and add
egg, applesauce or oil, honey, and vanilla.

4.Use your hands to mix well.

5.If making bars, press into a pan to desired
thickness. If making shapes, form
mix into a cookie cutter on parchment paper lined baking sheet.

6.Cooking time will vary based on thickness/size
of shape you make. Keep an eye on
the bars and remove before overbaking because the dried fruit can burn. I baked the small hearts for 10-12
minutes and the “loose” granola for 10 minutes.

7.Eat and enjoy!

The uses for these granola treats are endless. Take them to MOPS
for the moms to enjoy or a playgroup for a healthy shared snack with the little
ones, or just satisfy your sweet tooth with a more nutritious delight.

After making the hearts, I reserved some of the precooked
mix to spread loosely on a parchment-lined baking sheet to make granola which
can be eaten plain, on yogurt, with milk, or as a crunchy topping mix-in for
pudding (for eating, not painting!). After it cools, pour some
in a mason jar, add a lovely fabric under the rim of the lid, and you have a
quick and thoughtful Valentine’s gift.
If you’ve ever visited A Humble
Creation before, you know I have a fondness for mason
jars and fabric! For this mason jar, I used a stick on
heart stencil and red Martha Stewart paint to add the sweet little Valentine’s
touch.

I hope you will enjoy preparing, gifting, and eating this
nutritious treat. Remember this
Valentine’s Day, homemade granola is a perfect way to take care of those hearts
in the special people you Heart all year long.

Happy Creating from A Humble Creation and thanks to Katie
for letting me spend time with all of you today on The Copper Coconut!

**Mmmm, this looks soo good! I can't wait to try my own little blend of it!

1.08.2013

I love trying new things with my son. It's fun to watch him learn and experience different stuff. A little while ago, I found a pin on Pinterest about pudding finger painting. This mom let her child paint on paper, but I wasn't that brave (I knew it'd be messy!).

I plopped Luke in his high chair (with just a diaper on), whipped up some instant chocolate pudding and gave him a cookie sheet to use as his canvas. My little boy turned into an artist! He LOVED "painting" (although, I think he ate as much as he painted). And, of course, he went straight into the bath tub after this!

This is a fantastic activity to do while you're stuck at home with your kiddos during the cold winter months. It's super messy, but it's super fun!

1.02.2013

Happy New Year to all my wonderful blog readers! I'm so excited to start this new year with a post about a great deal you can get at Kroger.

Almost everyone I know makes at least one New Year’s
resolution. I’ve made a few. My sister just got engaged last weekend (woo hoo!) and her
wedding is in June, so my husband and I are on the “lose weight” bandwagon! We
want to look our best for all those pictures we will be taking.

Another one of my resolutions is to keep my house cleaner. I’m
a pretty organized person by nature and hate when my house looks messy, so I typically keep it picked up. But if you were to look closely (or not so closely), you’d notice dust bunnies
in the corners, hand prints on the windows (thanks to my 16 month old), dirt on
the floor, and a ring in the bathtub... plus a lot of other things I'm sure I've been neglecting!

So anyways, Kroger is having an AMAZING sale between December 30 and January
12 that is seriously going to help me with this. I can stock up on all the cleaning supplies I need. For example, these 5 things will make cleaning so
much faster and easier. Clorox Disinfecting Wipes (I use these for everything), Febreze
Mini Candles (so my house always smells clean!), Formula 409 (for the
bathroom especially), Swiffer Sweeper Starter Kit (I have hardwood floors), and Pine-Sol
(to keep my floors looking clean).

I don't know what your resolutions are, but you should definitely check out this deal at Kroger. Plus, if you want to save even more money, check out this online game you can play to have a
chance to win $15 off your entire purchase! (See bottom of post for details).

So, what are your New Year’s resolutions? Is anyone going to be hitting up this sale?

Shop and play to win with the Buy 5 Save $5 sale taking place December 30-January 12 at the Kroger Co. Family of Stores! Automatically save $5 at checkout when you use your Shopper’s Card, just by buying 5 participating products. In addition, you can play this quick and easy online game for a chance to win up to $15 off your entire trip.*I was selected for participation in this campaign as a member of Clever Girls Collective.

about me

I was an assistant interior designer to a small locally-owned studio, where we specialized in residential design. I am now a stay-at-home mom who loves to craft, renovate, and remodel. I also dabble in graphic design and stained glass.